UConn Research Opportunity

Research Opportunity – Neurolinguistics and Neurocomputational Work

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Opportunity Description

The BrainLens Lab invites applications for research assistant positions focused on exploring the neural mechanisms underlying naturalistic language comprehension across populations with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This project employs a combination of behavioral and neural methodologies to enhance our understanding of how the brain processes language in real-world scenarios.

Students are expected to conduct literature reviews, participate in data collection, and manage and analyze research data. The position requires less than 9 hours per week, with weekly to biweekly team meetings for progress updates. Course credits are available, and opportunities for publication involvement may arise based on progress and interest.

Student Qualifications
Background or strong interest in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, or a related field.
Basic knowledge of statistical approaches and data analysis tools (e.g., R or Python) is a plus.
Attention to detail and consistency is important.

How to Apply
If you are interested, please send an email to Dr. Chanyuan Gu (kmw24003@uconn.edu) with your resume.

Mentor: Chanyuan Gu, Postdoctoral Fellow
Department: Psychological Sciences
Email: kmw24003@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Social Media and Marketing Strategist

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Opportunity Description

This position will support the publication of a book on the topic of the politics of disability and the US care crisis. The writing relates to the ways ableism (or the devaluation of disability) is embedded into every aspect of our culture and society, which then translates into such things as a lack of care infrastructure and the resulting dependence on the unpaid care work of family members.

I am looking for a student who can assist with social media and marketing. The student will conduct social media research (reviewing and compiling social media accounts and content related to topics covered in the book), navigate social media platforms, organize information gleaned from social media thematically in spreadsheets, synthesize broad trends, and advise on social media plans for the book, all while learning about the nonfiction trade book publishing process.

Student Qualifications
Required:
– Social media literacy with IG, TikTok, and Twitter, and other platforms
– Completed coursework in marketing/publicity, business/communications, and/or journalism

Preferred:
– Experience working in publicity, marketing, or advertising
– Have interest in topics related to disability and/or caregiving

How to Apply
Please submit a resume and brief write up of why you are a fit for the position.

Mentor: Laura Mauldin, Associate Professor
Department: WGSS/SCI
Email: laura.mauldin@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Campus: Storrs

Research Assistant for Autism Intervention Systematic Review

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Opportunity Description

Join our systematic review project focused on understanding the effects of interventions on the brain and behavior of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We are conducting a comprehensive synthesis of neuroimaging and behavioral data from studies examining pre- and post-intervention changes in individuals with ASDs.

As a research assistant, your primary responsibilities will include:

  • Assisting with full-text screening of articles to determine eligibility based on our inclusion criteria.
  • Extracting data related to study design, participant demographics, intervention characteristics, neuroimaging, and behavioral outcomes.
  • Attending weekly team meetings (45 minutes online) to discuss progress, address challenges, and receive ongoing training and support.
  • Ensuring accuracy and consistency in data coding, and resolving discrepancies collaboratively.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in research methods, systematic reviews, neuroimaging, and autism intervention research. Course credit is available for this role; however, monetary compensation is not available.

Time Commitment: Approximately 4-6 hours per week. Flexible schedule with an expected commitment for the Fall 2024 semester, with the possibility of extension into Spring 2025.

Student Qualifications
Required:

  • Junior or senior with interest in neuroscience, psychology, special education, or related fields.
  • Major in psychology, pre-med, neuroscience, education, or related field.
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Attention to detail and ability to follow complex instructions.
  • Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred (but not required):

  • Previous research experience or coursework in neuroimaging, systematic reviews, or autism spectrum disorders.
  • Familiarity with academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus) and citation management software.

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV, a brief statement of interest, and your weekly availability for Fall 2024 to deborah.schneider-richardson@uconn.edu at your earliest convenience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.

Mentor: Deborah Schneider, Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Department: Psychological Sciences (BrainLENS)
Email: deborah.schneider-richardson@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Research Assistant Opportunity – Fact Checker

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Opportunity Description

This position will support the publication of a book on the topic of the politics of disability and the US care crisis. The writing relates to the ways ableism (or the devaluation of disability) is embedded into every aspect of our culture and society, which then translates into such things as a lack of care infrastructure and the resulting dependence on the unpaid care work of family members. I am looking for a student who can assist with fact checking for the book, which is an important process in all researched/journalistic writing. Duties will include but aren’t limited to:

  • Checking cited references
  • Cross checking field notes
  • Learning how to use citation software
  • Creating bibliographies
  • General support

Student Qualifications
Qualifications:

  • Experience with research
  • Knowledge of fact checking processes

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working for the school newspaper or in other journalistic endeavors

How to Apply
Please email your resume and a brief write up of why you think you are a good fit for this opportunity to Professor Laura Mauldin (laura.mauldin@uconn.edu.

Mentor: Laura Mauldin, Associate Professor
Department: WGSS/SCI
Email: laura.mauldin@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Campus: Storrs

Research Assistant at ECOM (Expression, Communication, and the Origins of Meaning) Research Group

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Opportunity Description

As an undergraduate research assistant at ECOM (Expression, Communication, and the Origins of Meaning Research Group), you will play a key role in organizing conferences and talks, contributing to the smooth execution of these academic events. You will also assist with research activities, particularly in conducting literature reviews to support ongoing projects. Additionally, if you have skills in website design, you will help maintain and update the ECOM website, ensuring it effectively communicates our work and events to the academic community. We are especially interested in students from philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, or related fields, as this role offers valuable experience in both research and event coordination, along with the opportunity to enhance your digital skills.

Availability: Must be available to work approximately 9 hours per week, with some flexibility to accommodate key event dates. Specific times will be discussed during the interview process.

Student Qualifications
Academic Background: Must be an undergraduate student majoring in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, or a related field.

Research Skills: Ability to conduct thorough literature reviews, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and synthesis of academic materials.

Event Coordination: Interest in or experience with organizing academic events, such as conferences and talks, is preferred.

Technical Skills: Basic proficiency in website design and maintenance is desirable but not required.

Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for coordinating with event speakers, team members, and managing public-facing content.

Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting, as well as independently on assigned tasks.

Attention to Detail: Must be detail-oriented, especially in tasks related to research, event planning, and website content management

How to Apply
Interested students should submit the following materials to apply for this research opportunity:

  • CV/Resume: Include relevant academic background, coursework, and any previous research or event coordination experience.
  • Short Statement: Provide a brief statement (no more than 300 words) explaining your interest in this position, any relevant skills or experience you bring, and your availability.

Please send your application materials to Utku Sonsayar utku.sonsayar@uconn.edu

Mentor: Dorit Bar-On, Professor
Department: Philosophy
Email: dorit.bar-on@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Campus: Storrs

Research Opportunity – Robotics Design

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Opportunity Description

The Ruka Lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering studies prosthetic and robotic grasping, manipulation, and controls. This position is a research experience focusing on end-effector and test object design. In addition to end-effectors, the choice of test objects is important to comprehensively validate the invention. Working on this project entails designing, building, testing, and iterating using 3D modeling software and additive manufacturing techniques. The student will be expected to work approximately 10hr/week and will primarily include independent design work and regular weekly meetings to discuss progress. Submitting work for publication will be contingent on good progress and interest from the student.

Student Qualifications
Experience with Solidworks or other 3D modelling software is necessary. Experience with MATLAB is a plus, as is experience with prosthetics and robotics, but not necessary. Those without prior research experience are encouraged to apply, so long as they are excited to work on creative hands-on design projects that they will help bring to life.

How to Apply
Please email Professor Yuri Gloumakov (yuri.gloumakov@uconn.edu), and include your year, major, classes you have taken related to design and engineering, a design portfolio (if you have one), how many hours per week you would like to work, and a brief description of why you are interested in this position. Attaching a resume is optional.

Mentor: Yuri Gloumakov, Assistant Professor
Department: Electrical and Computer Engingeering
Email: yuri.gloumakov@uconn.edu
Timing: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Research Assistant Opportunity in Reduced-Order Modeling of Fluid Dynamics

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Opportunity Description

Potential projects for undergraduate research will be based on mutual interest. Some topics include:
1. Data-assimilation in climate-motivated reduced order models using semi-analytical approach
2. Robust control of a reduced-order model of spatially developing flows
3. Fixed-flux convection analyzed by reduced-order models
4. Analysis and reduced-order model of flow over hydrophobic surfaces

The student’s responsibilities include problem formulation, programming, and data analysis.

Expected time commitment will be 9 hours per week with duration of at least one semester. The student may earn credit of independent study. Mentor will also encourage and support the application of summer research fellowship.

Student Qualifications
Students are required to be enrolled in an STEM major with a strong background in mathematics (especially calculus and linear algebra), physics, and computer programming (Python or MATLAB). Prior research experience, courses in fluid dynamics, and plan to pursue a Ph.D. program are desired but not required.

How to Apply
Interested students can apply this research opportunity by sending an email to Dr. Chang Liu via chang_liu@uconn.edu with a copy of CV and transcript. A paragraph describing why you are interested in this opportunity, what you plan to do, and the preferred research duration will be appreciated.

Mentor: Chang Liu, Assistant Professor
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Email: chang_liu@uconn.edu
Timing: Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

Research Opportunity – Cloud System area

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Opportunity Description

I am seeking motivated undergraduate students who are interested in doing research in the cloud system area. Interested students should email me to schedule a time to discuss the opportunity. Students who are interested in working on this research project may be encouraged to register for an independent study course to earn research credit.

Student Qualifications
A student is expected to have the following:
1) Strong coding skills
2) Self-learning and thinking; ability to problem solve
3) Hard working

How to Apply
If you are interested, please send an email with your resume and transcript to Dr. Wei Zhang (wei.13.zhang@uconn.edu).

Mentor: Wei Zhang, Assistant Professor
Department: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
Email: wei.13.zhang@uconn.edu
Timing: Ongoing
Campus: Storrs

• Field Research Opportunity: Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico

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Opportunity Description

Volunteer positions for fieldwork in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico are available during the summer of 2023. This tropical site has a rich history of ecological research (see http://luq.lternet.edu/) and is currently funded from a grant from National Science Foundation’s Long-Term Ecological Research Program (see http://www.lternet.edu/). Applicants must be able to commit for blocks of time (usually 4-7 weeks in duration, exact duration and dates will be determined, in part, based on availability of applicants) to be in Puerto Rico. Additional opportunities for research experience and the potential to work on related research projects at the University of Connecticut following fieldwork exist for interested participants.

Our research team will investigate responses of snails and insects to environmental variation related to elevation, landscape characteristics, or natural disturbances, including responses to Hurricane Maria (2017), and a long-term simulated hurricane experiment. Fieldwork is conducted at night and involves surveys by teams of workers at a series of small plots throughout the forest. Work involves long hours and hiking in wet and slippery mountainous terrain.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical field experience in the only tropical forest within the US Forest System. At night the forest comes alive with the calls of endemic frogs (coquis), with potential opportunities to interact with scientists and students from other universities that conduct ecological research on diverse aspects of the forest.

Lodging and round-trip transportation (plane ticket) will be provided by the project.

Student Qualifications
We are seeking mature, responsible, and hard-working students who are dedicated team-players. Good field habits (i.e., good note taking, good observations) are a plus. No previous work experience in tropical rainforests is necessary.

How to Apply
If interested, please contact Steven Presley (steven.presley@uconn.edu) or Michael Willig (michael.willig@uconn.edu) as soon as possible.

Mentor: Michael Willig, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, and Steven Presley, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department: Institute of the Environment
Email: michael.willig@uconn.edu; steven.presley@uconn.edu
Timing: Summer 2023, Ongoing
Campus: Off-campus Summer 2023, Storrs ongoing

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• Research Assistant in REINVENT-PT Lab

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Opportunity Description

The REINVENT-PT lab (REhabilitation INnoVations & Emerging Novel Technologies in Physical Therapy, PI: Dr. Sudha Srinivasan) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with developmental disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, etc. across the lifespan.
The REINVENT-PT lab is interested in understanding developmental trajectories of individuals with neuro-developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, and Intellectual Disability across the lifespan. We are interested in studying how infants and children with developmental disabilities explore their physical and social environment compared to typically developing peers and the cascading effects of motor difficulties on a child’s social communication and cognitive development. We are also interested in assessing health-related outcomes in adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities, including their physical activity and physical fitness levels. Based on our understanding of the developmental trajectories of individuals with disabilities, our goal is to develop multisystem, engaging, evidence-based, behavioural interventions and assistive technologies to empower the lives of people with disabilities.
At present, the lab has 2 ongoing research projects: (1) we are exploring the utility and efficacy of using playful joystick-operated ride-on-toys to promote upper extremity function and spontaneous use in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy both in a camp setting and as a home-based program. Specifically, we are also interested in comparing the efficacy of single versus dual joystick ride-on-toy navigation training in improving uni- and bimanual function in children with hemiplegic CP, (2) assessing the ability of healthy neurotypical children to drive joystick-operated ride-on-toys using their non-dominant side.

Student Qualifications
We are looking for passionate, energetic, and empathetic undergraduate students interested in working on projects involving infants, children, and adults with disabilities. Students can pursue research at the lab for credit, for work study, and with the potential of converting a subset of the research into an honor’s thesis. Students are required to commit to pursuing research in the lab for at least 2-3 semesters in order for the experience to be meaningful for students. Students are required to complete CITI training given that our research is with human subjects (details will be provided by the study PI).

How to Apply
Students from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to psychology, physiology and neurobiology, biology, exercise science, communication sciences, allied health, and education are encouraged to contact Dr. Sudha Srinivasan at sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu. Please attach your CV/Resume and your unofficial transcript in your email.

Mentor: Sudha Srinivasan, Assistant Professor
Department: Kinesiology (Physical Therapy)
Email: sudha.srinivasan@uconn.edu
Timing: Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Ongoing
Campus: Storrs